The books that we choose to keep -- let alone read -- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In My Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.

“Jewelry isn’t ordinarily a tool of political persuasion, but in this beautiful book, Madeleine Albright, American ambassador to the United Nations and then the nation’s first female secretary of state, tells the compelling story of how these small objects became part of her ‘personal diplomatic arsenal.’” — The Chicago Tribune From New York Times bestselling author and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, Read My Pins is a story and celebration of how one woman’s jewelry collection was used to make diplomatic history. Part illustrated memoir, part social history, Read My Pins provides an intimate look at Albright's life through the brooches she wore. Her collection is both international and democratic—dime-store pins share pride of place with designer creations and family heirlooms. Included are the antique eagle purchased to celebrate Albright's appointment as secretary of state, the zebra pin she wore when meeting Nelson Mandela, and the Valentine's Day heart forged by Albright's five-year-old daughter. Read My Pins features more than 200 photographs, along with compelling and often humorous stories about jewelry, global politics, and the life of one of America's most accomplished and fascinating diplomats.

Set off your stylish new outfit with a fabulous hand-made brooch or surprise your friends and family members with a spectacular one-off piece as a gift. Brooches & Pins, the newest title in the inspirational Magpie series, will show you how to make 20 eye-catching pieces, with clear step-by-step instructions and full-color photographs throughout to take the thinking out of making. From tape measure rosettes to Bakelite button cardigan clasps, these simple projects will teach you to cast, sew, knit, felt, bead, paint, print, engrave and invent your own darling brooches. Starting with an easy-to-follow techniques section and exploring a range of materials such as wood, ribbon, metal, ceramic, resin and found objects, Brooches & Pins will make you think 'outside the circle' when it comes to inventing your own brooches and pins. Suitable for jewelry-makers of all skill levels, particularly the novice crafter on a budget.

Brooches: Timeless Adornment is the first book on the subject of vintage and contemporary pins and brooches. Beginning with an illustrated history of how this jewellery form has evolved from Roman fibulae to scatter pins and starbursts this gorgeously illustrated volume presents more than 175 of the best examples of fine, costume, and artisan jewellery made by top designers, among them Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Georg Jensen, and Ted Muehling. Fashion stylists, celebrity collectors, and jewellery experts share their enthusiasm for the brooch and offer their ideas on how to accessorize with favourite pieces. These dazzling photographs show the jewellery as adornments to stunning jackets, dresses, and coats, and demonstrate how this piece has become a fabulous style statement. Practical information about storing, cleaning, and repair complete this indispensable resource for jewellery fans.

The focus of this book is on the side of the brooch that usually isn't noticed: the reverse. When we encounter an attractive piece of jewelry, our instinct is to admire the front, but when we turn it around, it often reveals a secret. The author lets us in on that secret, typically only shared between the maker and the wearer. Clever brooch makers often adorn the back with items meant to complement the front, or the backside may have a unique, intricate design all its own. When you flip a brooch over in your hand you may find a surprise message, a hidden pattern, or even an unlikely foreign implement. The result is a better understanding of the artist's abilities and personality. Now, you can judge for yourself what the 128 artists respresented in this volume had in mind, and, if you are a jewelry maker, you may be inspired to leave your own unique mark.

This outstanding collection of 500 contemporary brooches showcases the inventive design and technical virtuosity of artists from around the world. It features both traditional and avantgarde approaches to the art of jewelry making. Some pieces are formed from precious metals and gemstones while others are fabricated from found objects. Some are simple and practical while others are elaborate and eccentric. This diverse and beautifully presented collection will inspire jewelers, collectors, and art enthusiasts alike. Book jacket.

Surrealism Beyond Borders challenges conventional narratives of a revolutionary artistic, literary, and philosophical movement. Tracing Surrealism's influence and legacy from the 1920s to the late 1970s in places as geographically diverse as Colombia, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Romania, Syria, Thailand, and Turkey, this publication includes more than 300 works of art in a variety of media by well-known figures—including Dalí, Ernst, Kahlo, Magritte, and Miró—as well as numerous artists who are less widely known. Contributions from more than forty distinguished international scholars explore the network of Surrealist exchange and collaboration, artists' responses to the challenges of social and political unrest, and the experience of displacement and exile in the twentieth century. The multiple narratives addressed in this expansive book move beyond the borders of history, geography, and nationality to provocatively redraw the map of Surrealism.